AgiLe Integrated Airspace System (ALIAS)

AgiLe Integrated Airspace System (ALIAS) is an innovative and ambitious project that brings together eight highly motivated technology companies to demonstrate a scalable and cohesive airspace system for the future. This system will incorporate drones, air taxis and manned aircraft operating in unison to deliver economic and societal benefit for the UK.

During the initial phases the partners will integrate their individual technologies, incrementally building a regional airspace system including ground and flight testing of the sub-systems. The project culminates in the deployment of the ALIAS system to the Channel Islands; a perfect test environment for a regional airspace system that can be replicated across the UK. This deployment will include drones performing maritime and public health missions, a helicopter acting in the role of an air taxi alongside scheduled manned operations from the local airports.

The public benefit of ALIAS will be economic, social and environmental. The economic benefit is primarily through enabling drone and AAM operations with all of the associated jobs, growth and returns. The social benefits are primarily due to the flexible, regionalised approach to UTM which can form the backbone of an integrated transport network giving rural and remote areas of the UK full access to the nation's resources. The environmental benefits come from reduced emissions and ground infrastructure associated with future aircraft platforms coupled with the ability of the agile airspace system to minimise noise disturbance to the public.